Up to now, extreme production temperatures made it impossible to equip metallic components with RFID chips during the operating process. At Euromold in Frankfurt (December 2-5), Fraunhofer researchers present a variation on a process that makes the non-destructive integration of radio chips a reality (Hall 8, Booth M114).

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Three-dimensional computer graphics is moving into museums. Works of art are being digitally archived in 3D, simplifying research into related artifacts and providing the public with fascinating three-dimensional displays.

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A dentist carrying out root canal treatment will need to use a variety of compounds. These do not always bond together properly and sometimes expensive follow-up treatment has to be performed. But a new class of material meets the requirements and solves the problem.

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Polishing metal surfaces is a demanding but monotonous task, and it is difficult to find qualified young specialists. Polishing machines do not represent an adequate alternative because they cannot get to difficult parts of the surface. A new solution is provided by laser polishers.

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The manufacture of parts by compaction and sintering involves filling a die with metal powder. Research scientists have simulated this process for the first time to achieve an evenly distributed powder density. This improves the cost-efficiency of sintering.

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Solar wafers for use in the production of photovoltaic systems are extremely sensitive. In a test and demonstration center research is being conducted on grippers to determine the best way of handling delicate wafers in order to optimize the production process.

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Standard laser devices are fast enough for measuring the size of a room, but they need to be faster for outdoor mobile applications. Researchers have brought these scanners up to speed – they can measure ten times faster than usual scanners.

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Carbon fiber composite materials (CFRP’s) not only make cars and airplanes lightweight but also benefit the light weight constructions for valuable bicycle concepts. At the Composites Europe trade show in Stuttgart (October 27-29), Fraunhofer researchers will present a spring-loaded seat post made of CFRP’s (Hall 4, Booth D04).

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Diamonds, secure software, medications – at Fraunhofer USA, the research portfolio covers a vast array of topics. Exactly 15 years ago, Germany's Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe's largest institution for applied research, established the new subsidiary. Today six Centers are closely cooperating with top universities in the US to engineer solutions that industry can apply to their everyday business practices. On October 22 Fraunhofer USA celebrates its anniversary in Washington DC.

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The pursuit of new medications and the medical technology devices of the future: At Fraunhofer USA's research centers, science professionals transform the latest scientific findings into practical industrial solutions. Over the past 15 years, this wholly-owned subsidiary of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft -Europe's largest research institution devoted to applied research - has successfully staked its territory and expanded its position in the US. On October 22 Fraunhofer USA celebrates its 15th anniversary in Washington DC.

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Aircraft maintenance will be easier in future, with sensors monitoring the aircraft skin. If they discover any dents or cracks they will send a radio message to a monitoring unit. The energy needed for this will be obtained from temperature difference.

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The analysis takes just a few minutes and the doctor knows straight-away whether there are any pathogens in the blood. An improved marker-free technique provides the basis for faster analysis, whether in a hospital or for mobile blood donations.

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Limit values for fine dust emissions are based on total particle weight. It is the ultra-fine particles, however, that are particularly harmful to health. A new technique separates them by size and identifies their composition – directly where they arise.

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CMOS image sensors in special cameras – as used for driver assistance systems – mostly only provide monochrome images and have a limited sensitivity to light. Thanks to a new production process these sensors can now distinguish color and are much more sensitive to light.

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The smallest particles often make a huge difference. If they accumulate on the surface of a product during manufacturing, the quality of the goods may be impaired. A new method removes even the smallest particles safely and effectively.

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Producing metallic hollow spheres is complicated: It has not yet been possible to make the small sizes required for new high-tech applications. Now for the first time researchers have manufactured ground hollow spheres measuring just two to ten millimeters.

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Antibodies that could guard against HIV infection and therefore help to prevent AIDS can now be produced in plants. As part of the EU Pharma-Planta project, Fraunhofer researchers have helped to establish the fundamental principles required to produce the HIV-neutralizing antibody 2G12 in genetically modified tobacco plants, and are now providing the materials needed for clinical testing.

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Bigger speakers, bigger sound – this is the music lover’s creed. Flat panel loudspeakers offer an alternative to those who would rather not or cannot clutter up their homes with speakers. These speakers can be integrated inconspicuously on walls or in furniture. At the Internationale Funkausstellung IFA in Berlin from September 4 to 9, Fraunhofer scientists are presenting a completely new concept for ultra-flat loudspeakers that still deliver full sound reproduction.

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In spite of rising energy prices, many car drivers in large cities still ride alone. The OpenRide mobile ridesharing service aims to save them money while reducing the amount of traffic and thus the burden on the environment. At the IFA international consumer electronics exhibition in Berlin (September 4 to 9) Fraunhofer researchers are presenting a prototype of their open infrastructure for organizing spontaneous ridesharing opportunities, at the TecWatch technology forum in Hall 5.3.

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Many a historic landmark is defaced with graffiti, but the spray paint can only be removed – if at all – using caustic solutions which risk damaging the underlying surface. A new breathable coating provides efficient, all-round protection against attacks by taggers.

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Most natural rubber comes from rubber trees in Southeast Asia, but this source is now under threat from a fungus. Researchers have optimized the Russian dandelion to make it suitable for large-scale rubber production.

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What will the weather be like over the next few hours on the A3 between Nuremberg and Würzburg? Could fog be a problem? A new system will enable automakers to offer their customers additional services – such as weather information or details of vacant parking spaces.

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Crash tests often produce startling results. A new simulation process which factors in deformation during production as well as preliminary damage can predict the results of a crash test more accurately than ever.

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The processing and packaging of food is governed by very strict hygiene rules. Researchers are now testing production equipment for cleanroom suitability and are listing qualified products in an online database.

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Microorganisms are active everywhere, even in places where food is produced or processed – but not all are desirable. Researchers can now test the air directly in production halls or warehouses for potentially dangerous microorganisms.

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The »FlashBox« onboard recorder will soon make the work of film professionals easier: Truly diminutive in size, it stores digital film on exchangeable disks without compression. Fraunhofer researchers will be presenting the prototype at the International Broadcast Convention IBC in Amsterdam (September 11 to 15).

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Dome projection replaces the flat movie screen – the »Immersive Dome« puts viewers at the heart of the action, and lets them actively participate. And instead of the conventional surround sound, a three-dimensional aural experience awaits visitors. At IBC, the trade show for the electronics media industry in Amsterdam, two institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft debut the »Immersive Dome» in Hall 8, Booth C81.

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The engineers‘ dream of self-healing surfaces has taken another step towards becoming reality – researchers have produced a electroplated layer that contains tiny nanometer-sized capsules. If the layer is damaged, the capsules release fluid and repair the scratch.

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Customers want fresh food, which is neither unripe nor spoilt. A new system based on metal oxide sensors could check the safety and quality of foods reliably, quickly and economically – such as how ripe that pineapple really is.

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You need the right tool to slice silicon blocks into paper-thin wafers: a several-kilometer-long wire wetted with a type of grinding paste. And all the parameters must be optimally adjusted – only then can significant material losses be avoided during the cutting process.

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High-rate digestion with microfiltration is state-of-the-art in large sewage plants. It effectively removes accumulated sludge and produces biogas to generate energy. A study now reveals that even small plants can benefit from this process.

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In the past, sirens howled to warn the population against floods, large fires or chemical accidents. Today, however, there is no extensive warning system in Germany, as most sirens were dismantled after the Cold War. Researchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Technological Trend Analysis INT in Euskirchen want the population to be warned by car horns in the future.

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For a long time, batteries were bulky and heavy. Now, a new cutting-edge battery is revolutionizing the field. It is thinner than a millimeter, lighter than a gram, and can be produced cost-effectively through a printing process.

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Viruses can cost winegrowers an entire harvest. If they infest the grapevines, even pesticides are often no use. What’s more, these chemicals are harmful to the environment. Researchers are growing plants that produce antibodies against the viruses and are thus immune.

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Anyone who wants to can now produce their own vehicle in a factory on the “Second Life” Internet platform. They can program the industrial robots, and transport and assemble the individual parts themselves. Learning platforms provide relevant background information.

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Photovoltaic and wind energy plants, hydroelectric power stations and biogas plants supply energy without polluting the environment. However, they are complex to design and maintain. Virtual reality (VR) makes planning and operation easier.

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Shape memory alloys can “remember” a condition. If they are deformed, a temperature change can be enough to bring them back to their original shape. A simulation calculates the characteristics of these materials.

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The liver is one of the most important metabolizing organs in humans. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a model of the liver, which is viable outside the body and which is suitable for testing drugs.

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Product piracy causes billions worth of damage worldwide. A combination of visible and invisible copy protection is really effective against this. Explosive embossing is an economical procedure and can be used for mass-produced goods.

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Particle filters are standard in the basic fittings for cars. Construction machines, city buses and garbage trucks must now follow suit. This can be achieved effectively and inexpensively thanks to a new material and design for ceramic filters developed by Fraunhofer researchers.

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Emeralds, rubies and the likes are referred to as colored gemstones by experts. They sparkle and shine with varying intensity, depending on the cut. A new machine can achieve the best possible cut and extract up to 30 per cent more precious stone from the raw material.

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In biomedicine and biotechnology the smallest, complex, compound sample quantities must be reliably processed. Microsystems with new mechanisms of action for pumping, filtering and separating will manage this task with great efficiency in the future.

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A new simulation program optimizes the structure and configuration of the metallic contact fingers in concentrator solar cells, thereby improving the efficiency factor, and a highly-sensitive method of producing cDNA fragments from biological sample material has been developed.

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Our everyday lives are dictated by technical developments, and we will be increasingly moulded and changed by them. We can only actively help to shape the future if we know what awaits us. So how can we maintain a clear overview? The “Technology Guide: Principles – Applications – Trends” can provide sound assistance. It contains over a hundred articles in which internationally renowned experts give clear descriptions of all the main fields of technology.

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At present, dental technicians can only make dentures using a bite impression. The silicone template for this plaster model is made by the dentist, in a procedure which is unpleasant for the patient. In future a 3-D digitizer will provide the teeth contours – without plaster model.

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Not a plant to be seen, the desert ground is too dry. But the air contains water, and research scientists have found a way of obtaining drinking water from air humidity. The system is based completely on renewable energy and is therefore autonomous.

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The data eyeglasses can read from the engineer’s eyes which details he needs to see on the building plans. A CMOS chip with an eye tracker in the microdisplay makes this possible. The eyeglasses are connected to a PDA, display information and respond to commands.

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If solar cells were transparent they could be fitted to windows and building facades. Physical modeling helps in the development of suitable materials for transparent electronics and thus in creating the basis for transparent solar cells.

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Biochips carrying thousands of DNA fragments are widely used for examining genetic material. Experts would also like to have biochips on which proteins are anchored. This requires a gel layer which can now be produced industrially.

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Looking at photos on a cellphone display can be somewhat arduous. A new mini beamer will make it easier. The beamer is so small that it can be integrated in a cellphone or a PDA. As it does not need an extra light source it also conserves the battery.

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Solar electricity has a future: It is renewable and available in unlimited quantities, and it does not produce any gases detrimental to the climate. Its only drawback right now is the price: the electric power currently being produced by solar cells in northern Europe must be subsidized if it is to compete against the household electricity generated by traditional power plants. At "Laser 2009" in Munich, June 15 to 18, Fraunhofer researchers will be demonstrating how laser technology can contribute to optimizing the manufacturing costs and efficiency of solar cells.

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Maintenance of offshore drilling rigs or underwater cables, taking samples of sediment – underwater robots perform a variety of deep-sea tasks. Research scientists now aim to equip robots with tactile capability so that they can orientate themselves better under the sea.

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In the aftermath of an earthquake or chemical incident, every minute counts: the rescue team has to quickly gain an overview. Mini helicopters can help in future, investigating collapsed buildings from the inside, singly or as a swarm.

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The lactate value indicates levels of fitness. At present, athletes have to visit a doctor to have it measured. A new analytical device will make things easier in future: athletes can wear it and check their lactate readings during training.

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How can companies maximize truck capacity utilization and at the same time plan trips so that the burden on the environment and transport costs are reduced? A new software system couples cargo space utilization and trip planning.

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In future, cartilage, tendon and blood vessel tissue will be produced in the laboratory, with cells being grown on a porous frame, such as non-wovens. A new software program helps to characterize and optimize the non-wovens.

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Robots are commonplace in production halls, but are only allowed to operate in protected areas so as not to endanger humans with their movements. A new cost-efficient, robust force sensor can make robots sensitive to potential collisions.

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Electronic products are having to accommodate more and more components, all of which generate heat. Too much heat could put laptops and other devices out of action, so manufacturers equip them with metal plates to discharge it. A new composite can do this better.

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Leg prostheses need to be optimally adapted so that patients can walk properly. Until now, medical staff have had to document one or two steps by the patient in a gait laboratory. A new prosthesis adapter now records the wearer’s steps for a whole day – outside the lab.

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On construction sites, machines several meters large ram heavy steel planks and girders into the ground by generating targeted vibrations. In future, a new electronics system will monitor the expensive tools, indicate when they need servicing and thus prolong their useful life.

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Whether slalom or alpine skiing, competitive skiing is all about thousandths of a second. Hence, professional athletes must constantly refine their technique. Small radio transmitters will make it possible to analyze pros’ habits more closely.

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X-rays penetrate the patient’s body, helping the doctor guide the catheter through the artery. In future, it will be possible to monitor the position of the catheter without exposing the patient to X-ray radiation, and without the need for a contrast medium.

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Can the newly designed dashboard be easily installed? What paths should the assembly robot take so that the cables do not hit against the car body? A new software program simulates assembly paths and also factors in the pliability of components.

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A novel camera system has 25,000 processors integrated in its pixels which work together to analyze images the instant they are taken – over ten times faster than a computer. This allows to automatically adjust the output of a laser as it performs welding operations.

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Is the wind turbine’s rotor blade still intact? Or does it have tiny air bubbles that could expand and eventually cause a fracture? Material defects can be quickly and cost-efficiently detected using infrared thermography.

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Is someone sneaking around in front of the window trying to break in? Windows and doors are now being sensitized to suspicious movements: they can detect whether and how quickly something is moving. If it is a person, the system sounds an alarm.

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The material of wind energy converters must withstand intense forces. Are rotor blades damaged? A new robot inspects wind energy converters more precisely than a human ever could. It detects the minutest damage – even below the surface.

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